Shipping ports

Law on Rights to Registered Ships and Ship Structures

Shipping registration regulation - SchRegO

Flag law of seagoing vessels and the flag flying of inland waterway vessels

The Sea Pilot Act (SeeLG) is the basis for the order and administration of the sea pilot system in Germany.

Law on the tasks of the federal government in the field of maritime shipping. It regulates the tasks and responsibilities of the individual federal authorities in the field of shipping.

Federal Waterways Act - WaStrG

German Traffic Regulations for Navigable Maritime Waterways. English version here. The SeeSchStrO is part of the German maritime traffic and shipping law. It supplements and specifies the COLREG rules on German maritime waterways.
In the Ems estuary, the Ems estuary shipping regulations apply, which implement a bilateral agreement with the Netherlands. The basis of the SeeSchStrO as a statutory ordinance can be found in the Maritime Tasks Act. It contains essential components as the driving rules on these waters and the regulations on the visual and sound signals to be used and observed. The SeeSchStrO applies equally to all road users, also for sport boats and is supplemented by a large number of other laws and ordinances. The Inland Waterways Regulations (BinSchStrO) apply on the waterways that are further inland.

Ordinance for the implementation of the shipping register regulation (SchRegDV)

Ordinance on the crewing of ships under foreign flags

Ordinance on driving in the natural reserve of Helgoländer Felssockel (HelgfsBefV)

Ordinance on navigating federal waterways in certain nature reserves

Law on Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage by Sea Ships (Oil Damage Act - ÖlSG)

Ordinance introducing shipping regulations for the Ems estuary. The shipping regulations for the Ems estuary apply to the entire estuary area of the Ems, on the Ems to Papenburg, on the Leda to the entrance to the outer port of the sea lock at Leer and in the protective and security port of Borkum. The regulations are largely identical to the Maritime shipping regulations (or supplement them) and replace them in their scope.

Flag regulation ordinance

Ordinance on navigating federal waterways in national parks in the area of the North Sea. The marine area of the German part of the nominated property is federal waterways. Navigation is hence to be regulated by Order of the Federal Minister for Traffic. The order establishes speed limits for navigation in the National Parks and closed areas comprising of seal haul out sites, and breeding and moulting areas for birds.

Ordinance on the safety of shipping. It applies to all German sea waterways and German vessels (Bundeswehr ships are excluded). It regulates the obligation to rescue at sea, what to do in the event of a collision, the reporting of significant events and wrecks, as well as special behavior in terms of international seafaring.

Cost regulation for the Federal Waterways Act - WaStrG-KostV

Ordinance on the operation of ferries on federal waterways. The Ferry Operation Ordinance (FäV) is an ordinance of the Federal Republic of Germany that regulates the operation and supervision of ferries on federal waterways as well as the behavior of ferry staff and ferry users.

Ordinance on the issuance of certificates under the Oil Damage Act (Article 1 of the Ordinance on the issuance of certificates under the Oil Damage Act and on the amendment of the cost ordinance for official acts of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency) (Oil Liability Certificate Ordinance)

Ordinance on determining the oil quantities subject to contribution to the International Compensation Fund for Oil Pollution Damage according to the Oil Damage Act (Oil Reporting Ordinance)

Ship Safety Act - SchSG

Ship Safety Ordinance - SchSV

Ordinance on the commissioning of sports boats and personal watercraft as well as their rental and commercial use in the coastal area (SeeSpbootV)

Ordinance on coastal shipping

The German Maritime Safety Investigation Act (SUG) implements prescribed, uniform standards for marine casualty investigations in international investigation regulations. It replaces the previous Seeunfall-Untersuchungsgesetz (SeeUG)

Ordinance on the administration and regulation of the sea pilot areas Weser I and Weser II / Jade (Weser / Jade-Lotsverordnung - Weser / Jade LV)

Ems pilotage ordinance - Ems-LV

Elbe pilotage ordinance - Elbe-LV

Ordinance on entering and leaving the inner waters of the Federal Republic of Germany from sea areas at the border of the German territorial sea. As part of the preventive measures for the safety and ease of shipping on the maritime waterways, extensive traffic and safety management (internal link) ensures that dangers to shipping are averted and that disruptions do not even occur.

Ordinance on costs for official acts of the waterways and shipping administration of the federal government in the field of maritime shipping

Ship Equipment Ordinance - SchAusrV

Ordinance on the tariff system for piloting in sea areas

Federal Nature Conservation Act. Forms in the Federal Republic of Germany the legal basis for the protected goods nature and landscape and the measures of nature protection and landscape management.

Ordinance on spatial planning in the German exclusive economic zone in the North Sea. Part 3.6 applies to fishing and mariculture.

Implementation of the EU Directive 2000/60/EC - Water Framework Directive. This law has been updated several times. See the different versions here. The Water Management Act (WHG) forms the main part of German water law. It contains provisions on the protection and use of surface water and groundwater, as well as regulations on water management planning as well as flood protection.

The law on the transport of hazardous goods (GGBefG) is the fundamental law for the transport of dangerous goods by rail, magnetic levitation, road, water and air vehicles in the Federal Republic of Germany. It regulates the scope of the dangerous goods regulations in general, specifies the authorizations and the possibilities of intervention of the federal authorities and the amount of the fines for administrative offenses.

Ordinance on the composition and labeling of the quality of fuels. It contains provisions for protection against harmful environmental effects caused by combustion residues in the fuel. In addition, it stipulates uniform labeling of the fabrics.

Implementation of the EU Directive 2008/56/EC establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive). The establishment of a program of measures for marine protection in the German North and Baltic Seas is regulated by the Water Resources Act (WHG).

Ordinance on security measures for military restricted and warning areas on the Schleswig-Holstein east and west coast and in the Kiel Canal

Ordinance on the overview of work organisation and time sheets in maritime shipping